Life saving device



June 12, 1956 A. L. CRAFT LIFE SAVING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed'June 16. 1954 INVENTOR 40 AMOS L. CRAFT ATTORNEYS June l2, 1956 A. L.CRAFT LIFE SAVING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1954 INVENTORL. C R A F T Amos A ORNEYS United States Patent LIFE SAVING DEVICE AmosL. Craft, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Application June 16, 1954, Serial No. 437,114

Claims. (Cl. 9-11) This invention relates to 'life saving devices andmore particularly to such devices which are adapted to enclose andprotect as well as support one or more persons.

There are many devices of this general character now in general useincluding such well known devices as life rafts, inflatable or solidvests and the traditional cork lifesaver. Despite their widespread useeach of these devices has one or more serious deficiencies.

For example, the life rafts are extremely unstable and may be capsizedeasily either because of rough weather or inadvertent movements of theoccupant or occupants. Solid vests or rings of cork or kapok offereffective support to the wearer for very limited times, usually undertwelve hours. Life preservers of this latter type ofler little or nostorage space for food or medical supplies and provide no protectionagainst the attacks of fish. All inflatable life preservers arenotoriously vulnerable to puncture damage which renders them useless.

Collapsible life preservers including a number of rigid sections havealso been proposed. The life preserver disclosed in U. S. Patent1,078,640 is typical of such prior devices. The lack of stability,complexity, bulk and expense of the preserver and others of similarconstruction have prevented their commercial adoption.

The improved life preserver of the present invention which accomplishesthis primary object and other objects comprises essentially a pluralityof rigid body elements 'of the same shape and substantially the sameheight which are arranged for telescoping movement between .a collapsedposition for compact storage and an extended position to form a rigidenclosure for the user. Preferably only the upperrnost section is madebuoyant and the lower sections when in use extend beneath the surface ofthe water and are normally filled with water. This construction isextremely stable and provides complete protection to the occupants whilepermitting them to rest or sleep in comparative comfort and safety.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved lifepreservers which are stable, virtually unsinkable and are of strong anddurable construction.

It is also an object to provide improved life preservers which may becollapsed for compact storage and extended to form a rigid enclosure inwhich the occupant is supported in reasonable comfort and protectedagainst the attacks of fish.

It is a further object to provide improved life .preservers, which,despite their compact construction, have ample space for the storage ofmedical :supplies :and food supplies sufiicient to sustain life for overthirty .days.

It is an additional object to provide improved life preservers whichcomprise components of simple construction which may .be inexpensivelyfabricated and easily assembled.

I-t ,isalso an object to provide improved life preservers whicharelightinweight and compact for ease of storage and handling.

-It is a further object to provide improved life preservers which arenormally partially submerged in use 'selves to moulding by conventionaltechniques.

Patented June 12, 1956 Kid 2 for stability and which include means forvarying the degree of submersion 'to facilitate movement of thepreserver through the water.

It is also an object to provide improved life-preservers which in useform a tubular space enclosing, supporting and protecting the occupant,the preserver being constructed to permit entry from the bottom as wellas the top.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as thedescription proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a pictorial representation of the life preserver constructedin accordance with the invention in use;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the life preserver of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view'taken along line 4-4of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a component of the life ipreserver ofthe present invention.

Referring now more particularly :to the drawings, the principalstructural components .of the life preserver of the present inventionare the main body section indicated generally at 20, a plurality ofintermediate sections indi- 'cated generally at 21, 22, 23 and .24respectively'and a simple structural configuration these componentsparticularly the intermediate and bottom body sections lend them- Whileother materials such as sheet metal can be iutilized,'plasties arepreferred because of their light weight-easy fabrication, theirdurability and their corrosion resistance which minimzes or eliminatesthe problem of maintenance. For reasons which more fully appearhereinafter all of the body sections are preferably constructed of amaterial having a specific gravity greater than that of water.

The intermediate body sections 21-24 are of tabular form and are ofidentical construction except for a variation'in their lateraldimensions. As best seen in Figure 3 the successive intermediate bodysections 2124 are arranged for telescoping movement between a collapsedposit-ion, not shown, which has substantially the same height as that ofany of the individual components and the fully extended position shownin Figures 1 and 3.

With continuing reference to Figure 3 it will be seen that each of theintermediate body sections 21-24 is provided around its upper peripherywith an outwardly directed tapered flange 26 and around its lowerperiphery with an inwardly directly similarly tapered flange 28. Theintermediate body sections 21-24 are so proportioned that when thedevice is extended, as shown in Figure 3, the inclined surfaces of theadjacentflanges 26 and 28 are in full surface contact and thus establishthe fully extended position 'of'the intermediate sections. The upperflange 26 of the intermediate body section 21 similarly engages a flange30 formed around the lower inner periphery of the main body section 20and the lower flange 28 formed on the intermediate body member 24engages a similar flange 32 formed around the upper peripheral edge ofthe bottom body section 25.

when as'shown, the body members are made of plastic or plastic-laminate,the flanges 26, 28, 30 and 32 are preferably moulded integrally with thebody sections. However, when other materials are used separate flangemembers may be employed in the place of the integral ridges shown.

The main body member v20 is constructed in the form of a hollow annulushaving inner and outer peripheral Walls 36 and 38, respectively, towhich top and bottom cover members 40 and 42, respectively, arepermanently secured. The hollow interior of the member is preferablydivided to an upper annular chamber 44 and a lower annular chamber 46 bya horizontal strip or plate 48. While the chamber 46 and portions of thechamber 44 are water tight and thus provide considerable buoyancy theyare nevertheless subject to damage which might destroy their buoyancy.Accordingly, light metal cylinders 50 preferably filled with helium arepermanently installed in the chamber 46 along two sides of the main bodysection 20 as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The inclusion of these cylindersboth increases the buoyancy of the unit and insures continued buoyancydespite possible damage to the body section 20.

The remainder of the chamber 46 extending along the other sides of thebody section 20 and the entire section 44 is available for storage. Inthe embodiment shown only the portion of the chamber disposed above thecylinders 50 is so utilized, doors 52 being provided to afford access tothe interior of the storage chamber. The doors 52 are preferablyprovided with sealing plates or strips 54 to maintain the storagechamber 44 substantially water tight to protect food and medicalsupplies stored therein. If additional storage space is required it willbe obvious that additional doors can be provided affording access to thechambers 44 along the other two sides of the body section 20.

The bottom body section is generally similar to the intermediatesections 2124 except that it is provided with a bottom wall assemblyindicated generally at 56 which has three important functions whichcontribute significantly to the improved operation of the life preserverdisclosed herein. It provides support for a substantial portion of theweight of the occupant. It permits entry of water into the interior ofthe space enclosed by the intermediate body sections so that asubstantial portion of the device is submerged to increase itsstability. Finally it atfords an alternate path of entry into thepreserver so that it may be entered by an occupant either from the topor through the bottom wall assembly.

The assembly 56 comprises an integral inwardly extending relativelynarrow rim 57 extending around the periphery of the bottom body section25 and hinged floor sections 58 and 60. The floor sections 58 are eachsupported on hinges 59 mounted on opposite portions of the rim 57 and attheir opposite ends extend over the other rim portions so that they maybe freely moved upwardly but are rigidly supported against downwardmovement. The floor sections 60 are mounted on hinges 61 on the freeedges of the hinged floor sections 58 and are also supported at theiropposite ends on the rim 57. The hinged sections 58 and 60 are soproportioned that as shown in Figures 2 and 3 the free edges of thehinge sections 60 meet substantially centrally of the bottom bodysection 25.

The rim 57 and each of the hinged floor sections 58 and 60 are providedwith a plurality of perforations 62 to permit the free flow of waterinto and out of the space defined by the intermediate body sections21--24 and the bottom body section 25.

To impart additional structural rigidity to the main body section 20,two rigid bars 64, preferably of plastic, extend across the body section20 adjacent the opposite sides thereof in a directional normal to thehelium filled cylinders 50 and are rigidly secured at their oppositeends to the inner body wall 36, flush with the top of these walls. Itwill be understood that the bars 64 are installed after assembly of thebody sections. A pair of flexible cords 66 are attached to one of thebars 64 and as shown. particularly in Figure 3 extend over and aroundthe body sections 20-25 through adjacent perforations in the rim 57 ofthe bottom wall 56 of the bottom body section 25 and are attached attheir opposite ends to the respective bars 64. The cords may also extendbetween the opposite bars 64. In addition to providing structuralrigidity the bars 64 also provide grips against which an occupant maybrace himself in rough weather. The ropes, if extended across the spacebetween the bars 64 to some extent tie the occupant in the preserver.

Also by adjustment of the length of the ropes 66 the draft of the lifepreserver may be regulated as desired. When maximum stability isrequired or when drifting is to be minimized the life preserver willpreferably be fully extended as shown in Figure 3. However, when it isdesired to move the life preserver through the water, the cords 66 maybe adjusted to decrease the draft of the life preserver to any desiredamount to facilitate its movement through the water.

To increase the comfort of the occupant a removable seat 68 is providedhaving a length preferably substantially equal to the inner dimension ofthe intermediate wall section 22 so that its opposite ends and onelateral edge may be supported on the ledge 26 formed on the uppersurface of the intermediate body section 23. The seat 68 as shown isconstructed in the form of a paddle so that it may be removed and usedas a means for propelling the preserver through the water when desired.If desired the seat may be permanently installed.

The life preserver is normally stored in its fully collapsed positionand is held in this position by clips or straps not shown. When itbecomes necessary to use the life preserver, the clips or straps arereleased and the life preserver is thrown into the water. Since thewater freely enters the device through the apertures 62, the deviceimmediately upon contact with the water begins to extend and to assumethe position shown in Figure 3. Even when the extension is partiallycomplete the device is sufficiently stable to permit a person in thewater to climb into the device over its side and when the occupantsweight is applied to the floor of the device it rapidly assumes thefully extended position shown in Figure 3 in which it has completestability regardless of weather conditions or of movements or thedisposition of the weight of the occupant.

By reason of the hinged fioor assembly 56 the device may also be enteredfrom beneath. The floor sections 61 may be folded over the sections 58and the sections 58 may then be folded upwardly for this purpose.

It will be seen from Figure 1 that the occupant can assume a relaxedsitting position within the device from which he cannot be dislodged byrough weather. In this position the occupant is completely protectedfrom fish and may relax or sleep in relative comfort and safety.

As illustrated, the device is constructed for the support and protectionof a single occupant and in one commercial form comprises in addition tothe main and bottom body sections four intermediate sections, all of thesections being approximately seven inches deep. In this unit, which issquare, the outside width of the main body section is twenty-eightinches and the inside measurement is twenty-three inches to form astorage chamber approximately five inches in depth. The bottom sectionis approximately twenty inches square. The wall thickness throughout isapproximately one-sixteenth of an inch. However, it is to be understoodthat this example is given by way of illustration only and thatconsiderably larger dimensions are feasible so that the device may beused to support several occupants. Also it is to be understood that theentire life preserver may be not only square as shown but rectangular,round, oval or any other shape as desired.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A life saving device comprising, in combination, a

main body section, a plurality of independent she'll-like secondary bodysections, a bottom body section, each of said sections being ofsubstantially the same height and of similar shape, and said sectionsbeing adapted to telescope within the adjacent section whereby saiddevice may be collapsed for storage and extended for use, means forminga hinged floor assembly in said bottom body section adapted to permitthe entry of an occupant into the device through said floor assembly,and means forming perforations in said floor assembly to permit theentrance of water into each of said secondary sections and said bottomsection whereby each of said secondary sections is disposed below thewater level when the device is in use to thereby stabilize the device.

2. A life saving device comprising, in combination, a main body section,a plurality of independent shell-like secondary body sections, a bottombody section, each of said sections being of similar shape and theheight of said main body section being at least equal to the height ofthe remaining sections, and said sections being adapted to telescopewithin the adjacent section whereby said device may be collapsed forstorage and extended for use, means forming a door assembly in saidbottom body section adapted to open inwardly of said device, meanspreventing outward movement of said door assembly whereby said doorassembly permits the entry of an occupant into the device through saiddoor assembly, and said door assembly, after being closed, efiectivelysupports an occupant in said device, and means to retain said sectionsin assembled relation in extended position.

3. A life saving device comprising, in combination, a main body section,a plurality of independent shell-like secondary body sections, a bottombody section, each of said sections being of similar shape and theheight of said main body section being at least equal to the height ofthe remaining sections whereby said device may be c01- lapsed forstorage and extended for use, means forming a hinged floor assembly insaid bottom body section adapted to permit the entry of an occupant intothe device, and means forming openings in said bottom body section topermit the entrance of water into the space enclosed by each of saidsecondary sections and said bottom section whereby each of saidsecondary sections and said bottom section is disposed below the waterlevel when the device is in use to thereby stabilize the device.

4. A life saving device comprising, in combination, a main body section,a plurality of independent shell-like secondary body sections, a bottombody section, each of said sections being of similar shape and theheight of said main body section being at least equal to the height ofthe remaining sections, said sections being adapted to telescope withinthe adjacent sections whereby said device may be collapsed for storageand extended for use, means in said main body section for rendering saidmain body section buoyant, the remaining sections having a specificgravity greater than water, means in said bottom body section to admitwater into the space enclosed by said secondary body section and saidbottom body section whereby each of said secondary body sections andsaid bottom body section is disposed below the water level when thedevice is in use to thereby stabilize the device, cooperating means onadjacent sections for limiting the extension of said device, andadditional means accessible from the interior of the device for limitingthe extension of said device to decrease the draft of said device andthereby facilitate movement through the water when in use.

5. The life saving device according to claim 4 wherein thelast-mentioned means comprises flexible cords secured to said main bodysection and connected to said bottom body section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS174,655 Beck Mar. 14, 1876 563,747 Coplin July 14, 1896 1,078,640Pinczes NOV. 18, 1913 2,327,168 Bucknell Aug. 17, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS234,219 Great Britain May 28, 1925 471,166 France Oct. 7, 1914 679,396France Apr. 11, 1930

